Apparatus for straightening bent articles



Sept. 6, 1966 A. c. WEST APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING BENT ARTICLES Filed July 50. 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l Arf/wr NWS? WM' Aan-fw f 53 El? Sept. 6, 1966 A. c. WEST APPARATUS Fon STHAIGHTENING BENT ARTICLES Filed July 50.61965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,270,540 APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING BENT ARTICLES Arthur C. West, Drawer 752, Cleveland, Miss. Filed July 30, 1963, Ser. No. 298,665 1 Claim. (Cl. 72--31) This invention relates to apparatus for straightening bent articles, such as an elongated cotton picker spindle bar having a laterally projecting cam arm at one end thereof.

An object of my invention is to provide apparatus for straightening a bent article of the character designated whi-ch shall be relatively light in weight and portable whereby it may be transferred from place to place and operated without anchoring the apparatus in a permanent manner.

Another object of my invention is to provide apparatus for straightening a bent article in which a maximum amount Iof force may be applied to a bent portion of the article without the necessity of providing long lever arms and the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide apparatus for straightening a bent article of the character designated in which force may be applied in selected directions relative to the bent article.

A further object of my invention is to provide apparatus for straightening a bent article of the character designated which shall be extremely simple of construction and operation and one which requires a minimum of space for storage and operation.

As is well known in the art to which my invention relates, it has been the usual prac-tice to st-raighten bent articles, such as cotton picker spindle bars, by securing the bar` in place on a supporting structure annd then exerting force in various directions by employing rod-like lever arms and the like. Also, xed backing members have been associated with a supporting structure for imparting a force against a bent portion of the article. Such means of straightening a bent article are not only time consuming .and require great manual strength, but are ineffective to apply the straightening force in the proper direction in many cases.

To overcome the difliculties heretofore encountered in thestraightening of articles, such as cotton picker spindle bars and the like, I provide straightening apparatus which includes a backing member having a curved inner surface which is adapted to surround at least a portion of the article to be straightened. An extensible power unit is positioned between the curved inner surface of the backing member and the portion of the article to be straightened whereby a straightening force may be applied at selected angular positions relative to the curved inner surface of the backing member. I `also provide means for detachably securing the article to be straightened to the apparatus and provide means .applying forces in selected directions whereby various portions of the article may be straightened.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric View, partly broken away, showingthe -straightening apparatus with an article to be straightened in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a fragmental, side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmental, top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.; and

FIG. 4 is an end view of the apparatus, partly broken away.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show a supporting frame which "ice may be provided with a flat supporting surface 11. Mounted on the supporting surface 11 are longitudinally spaced .aligning members 12 and 13 which are adapted to extend transversely of the article to be straightened, indicated in dotted lines at 14.

The aligning member 12 comprises a transverse support bracket 16 having an arcuate recess 17 in the upper surface thereof for receiving the article 14. Pivotally connected to the bracket 16 by means of a pivot pin 15 is an upstanding link member 18. The upper end of the link member 18 is pivotally connected by a pin 19 to a transverse member 21 which is adapted to pivot over the article 14. An arcuate recess 22 is provided in the under surface of the transverse member 21 in posi-tion to receive the upper surface of the article 14 whereby the article 14 is clamped between the arcuate surfaces 17 and 22 while the transverse member 21 is in the position shown in the drawings. Preferably, the arcuate surfaces 17 and 22 of the aligning member 13 engage the Ibearing surface of the bar 14. To adapt the arcuate surfaces 17 and 22 f-or receiving various size bearing surfaces suitable shims or the like may be inserted between the arcuate surfaces 17 and 22 and the bearing surface of the bar. The end of the transverse member 21 opposite the pivoted end thereof is provided with an outwardly opening slot 23 for receiving an upstanding threaded member 24. The lower end of Ithe threaded member 24 is pivotally connected to .the bracket 16 by a pivot pin 26. Threadedly engaging the upper end of the threaded member 24 is an operating handle 27 The aligning member 13 may comprise upstanding brackets 28 and 29 which are secured to the supporting frame 10 in position to receive the article 14 therebetween, as .shown in FIG. 1. Extending transversely `of the brackets 28 and 29 is a transverse member 31 having suitable openings therethrough for receiving depending threaded members 32.carried by retaining members 33. The threaded members 32 are adapted to engage threaded openings 34 carried in the brackets 28 and 29, as shown in FIG. 2. Secured to the under surface of the transverse member 31 directly Iabove the upstanding bracket 29 is a depending bracket 36 which is adapted to engage laterally projecting cotton picker spindles 37 which are carried by the spindle bar 14, as shown in FIG. l.

Extending transversely of the supporting frame 10 is an upstanding backing member 38 which is provi-ded with a curved inner surface 39. Preferably, the curved inner surface is generally annular and the backing member is positioned whereby the curved inner surface 39 surrounds the portion of the article 14 to be straightened. Since the cam arm, indicated in dotted lines at 41, is the most likely part of the spindle bar 14 to be bent, the backing member 38 is shown directly opposite the cam head, indicated in `dotted lines at 42. The backing member 38 may be adapted for adjustment longitudinally of the supporting frame 10 by providing longitudinally extending grooves 43 at opposite sides of the supporting frame in position to receive adjustable locking members 44 which lare adapted for sliding movement in inwardly opening slots 46 carried by depending portions 47 of the backing member 38, as shown in FIG. 4. The locking members 44 are operatively connected to threaded actuating members 48 having -operating handles 49. That is, the threaded actuating members 48 are in threaded engagement with openings in the depending portions 47 of the backing member whereby upon rotation of the operating handle 49, the members 48 move inwardly and outwardly of the slots 46 to thereby determine the position of the locking members 44. Preferably, the actuating members 48 are adapted for rotation relative to the locking members 44 but are so connected to the locking members that the locking members move with the actuating members 48 as the members 48 move axially toward and away from the grooves 43.

The backing member 3S lmay be secured rigidly to the supporting frame -at the position shown in FIG. 1, whereby a second similar backing member 38 could be mounted for longitudinal movement in the groove 43. That is, since most bends occur in the cam arm 41, the backing member 38 could be rigidly secured in position to straighten this part of the article, if desired, while other portions `of the article 14 are straightened by a similar backing member 38 which is adapted to ride in the longitu-dinally extending grooves 43.

To impart a straightening force, I employ an extensible power unit 51 which may be in the form of `a jack member which is actuated by hydraulic, pneumatic or screw means. In the drawings, I show the power unit 51 as being actuated by fluid under pressure supplied by a tank S2 which is connected to the power unit 51 by a flexible conduit 53. Fluid under pressure is introduced into the power unit 51 by a suitable operating handle 54. The extensible power unit 51 is positioned between the curved inner surface 39 of the backing member 38 and the cam head 42, as .shown in FIG. 4, when the cam arm 41 is to be straightened. Since the inner surface 39 of the backing member 38 extends around the cam head 42, force may be'imparted at selected angular positions. In FIG. 4, I show a spacer block 56 interposed between the power unit 51 and the inner curved surface 39 of the backing member. Instead of employing the spacer block to position the power unit, -a power unit 51 of greater length maybe employed. That is to say, the power funit may be of a suicient length to span the distance between the innersurface 39 of the backing member yand the portion of the article 14 to be straightened or `suitable spacer members 56 may be employed.

Secured to the supporting frame 10 forwardly of the backing member 38 is an upstanding bracket 57 having an opening S8 therethrough `for receiving a guide member 59.v The guide member 59 is provided with a suitable recess 61 at the inner end thereof which is adapted to receive the cam head 42 when it is bent to correct position. That is, the guide member 59 is moved axially inwardly of the bracket 57 toward the cam head 42 and if the cam head 42 enters the recess 61, it is bent to correct position. If the cam head 42 does not enter the recess 61, it is bent to correct position by inserting the extensible power unit 51 between the cam head 42 and the inner surface 39 of the backing member 38. Due to the size, shape and length of cam arms for various types of cotton picker spindle bars, the guide member 59 may be constructed of various sizes and lengths.

Theupstanding bracket 57 may also serve as a backing member for the power unit S1 to apply force t-o the cam head 42 lat substantially right anglesto the plane of the backing member38, as shown in FIG. 3. `Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the extensible power unit 51 may be positioned between the flat supporting surface 11 and the under surface of the article 14 to `exert an upward force thereagainst, if desired. On the other hand, the extensible power unit 51 may be moved to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2 whereby it is interposed between the cam head 42 and the transverse aligning bracket 12.

Secured to yand projecting upwardly lfrom the supporting member 10 adjacent the yend thereof opposite the upstanding bracket 57 is an upstanding bracket 62 having an opening 63 therethrough in position to receive an end 64 of a spindle bar 14. The upstanding bracket 62 thus serves as a tail stock shaft aligning block and may be of any desired shape or size to accommodate various size,

end portions 64.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved apparatus for straightening articles will be readily understood. The transverse members 21 and 31 carried by the aligning brackets 12 and 13 are released and moved to a position for receiving the article 14. That is the article 14 is positioned in the apparatus whereby the forward portion thereof is supported by the arcuate recess 17 while the end 64 extends through the opening 63 in the upstanding bracket 62. The laterally projecting spindles 37 which are adjacent the upstanding bracket 29 are positioned whereby they extend over the bracket 29, as shown in FIG. l. It will be understood that the spindle bar 14 carries other laterally projecting spindles 37 other than the ones which engage the upstanding bracket 29. However, the other laterally projecting spindles are not shown for the -sake of clarity. With the article 14 thus mounted in the apparatus, the transverse members 21 and,31.are positioned over the article 14, as shown in the drawings, and the retaining members 27 and 33 are tightened to thus secure the article 14 firmly on the supporting frame 10. Where the cam arm 41 ,is to be straightened, the backing member 3S is moved tothe position shown in FIG. l whereby the curved inner surface 39 is in direct alignment with the cam head 42. The extensible power unit 51 is then inserted between the cam head 42 and the inner curved surface 39 and iiuid under pressure is introduced through the line 53 whereupon the power unit51 expands to exert a straightening force on the cam head 42 to thereby move it into proper position relative to the main body of the spindle bar. The aligning member 59 is then moved inwardly whereby the recess 61 receives the cam head 42 when the cam arm 41 is bent to correct position. Where it is desired to limpart bend to other parts of the article 14, the backing mem-ber 38 is moved to a position directly opposite the portion to be straightened and the extendible power unit 51 is inserted between the curved inner surface of the backing member 38 and the portion to be straightened. Also, where other portions of the article 14 are to be straightened, the extensible power unit 51 maybe inserted in the various positions shown in the drawings whereby a straightening force may be applied in selected directions and at selected angular positions.

From thev foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved apparatus for straightening bent articles, such as spindlebars for cotton picking spindles and the like. By providing a backing memberhaving a curved inner surface which surrounds the portion of the article to be straightened, I provide means for applying straightening pressure in any desired angular position without having to -adjust the position of the backing member. That is, once-the backing member is set in proper relation to the Iarticle to be straightened, it is only necessary to move the extensible power unit to selected angular positions along the curved rinner surface whereby theportion to Ibe straightened may be forced to any desired location. Also, by providing a backing member which is adapted for Ilongitudinal adjustment along the supporting frame, the`backing member having the curve-d inner surface may be moved longitudinally `of the Vframe to selected positions relative to the article tobe straightened. Furthermore, by .providing means for. applying pressure to the article to be straightenedwhich lies wholly within the coniines ofthe apparatus, I eliminate entirely the necessity of providing long lever arms and the like for prying the bent portions back into shape and at the same time eliminate the necessity of anchoring the apparatus in a permanent manner. j

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departingfrom the spirit thereof, and vI desire, therefore, that only such. limitations shall be placed thereupon as. are specifically set forth in the appended claim.

What I .claim is:

Apparatus for straightening a bent cam arm of a bar for` holding cotton picker spindlescomprising:

(a) a supporting frame,

(b) means carried by said frame for detachably securing said bar to said frame,

(c) a backing member extending generally perpendicular to and connected adjustably to said frame and having a curved inner surface disposed to surround the cam arm of said bar at selected positions,

(d) an extensible power unit disposed for one end thereof to engage said inner surface of the backing member and the other end thereof to engage a portion of said cam arm to exert a straightening force against said cam arm,

(e) an upstanding bracket carried by said frame and extending parallel to said backing member, and

(f) a movable gauge member mounted for sliding movement at right angles to said bracket and hav- 1 ing a recess therein in position to receive the cam portion of said arm when said cam portion is in proper position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

L. A. LARSON, Assistant Examiner. 

